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Many communities in the state of Delaware were established with families who worked old fashioned blue collar jobs in manufacturing, construction and the trades.

We remember how these blue collar jobs offered families stability by offering individuals – most, if not all, without college degrees – middle-class wages, health insurance, and a pension. Plus, these jobs provided an extra benefit when the wages earned through these jobs stayed in the community when families shopped, ate, and supported local businesses. Finally, these jobs offered a path to a career and an opportunity to a middle-class lifestyle for several generations.

We are not being nostalgic over a time that has passed. On the contrary, the model that built local communities and lifted generations of families into the middle-class through blue collar job opportunities still exist. Although not quite as visible as in the past, there is a current demand in Delaware for skilled tradespeople in construction, industrial and commercial maintenance, and manufacturing.

Today, we must look to sustain and expand a critical component that fueled these blue collar jobs – an apprenticeship system that produces qualified, Delaware workers.

Apprenticeships are a proven method of education in which a person learns a construction trade by working alongside a journeyman, an individual accreditation status nationally recognized, certifying a well-rounded ability in all phases of their trade. With anywhere from 4,000 to 8,000 hours of on-the-job training, apprenticeships complete a minimum of 144 hours of classroom instruction in their field. Essentially, apprentices work for an employer or sponsor and are paid while they learn their respective trade: “earning while learning."

Some may ask, where are the construction or manufacturing jobs for apprentices? Currently, the state and Delaware’s three counties have renovation projects and other new construction budgeted. As publicly funded initiatives, these projects are protected by prevailing wage laws, which ensure a good wage, health care and retirement benefits for those who work on the projects.

There are many contractors who value having the opportunity to work on these government funded projects. However, shouldn’t we as taxpayers demand that these contractors – who are being paid with public dollars – be responsible and invest in Delaware by having and operating certified apprenticeship programs that provide Delaware residents job opportunities?

Asking contractors to act responsibly should not be viewed as burdensome by anyone. Overall, the return on ensuring this requirement far outweighs any costs. From the contractors’ perspective, investing in apprenticeship programs demonstrate their commitment to the future of their own company by helping to build tomorrow’s workforce and investing in Delaware.

From the state’s perspective, we can put Delawareans to work where they develop marketable skills that lead to careers while earning good wages. Secondly, hiring Delaware apprentices keeps the money they earn in our local communities. Thirdly, these apprentices immediately become tax payers.

The importance of having active apprenticeship programs is not confined only to contractors doing work in the public sector. Private sector contractors employing apprentices provide effective opportunities to build our communities as well.

Also, the work is not confined only to new construction. Skilled tradespeople and apprentices work to renovate and maintain heavy equipment in a variety of industrial settings and commercial buildings.

As the state, county and private sector discuss different options to put Delawareans to work, we need to remember that we already have one way to give Delawareans a career, keep wages circulating in the local community, and create new taxpayers: by demanding construction contractors to be responsible and create, operate and maintaining qualified apprenticeship programs.

Apprenticeship programs work.

Gregory Furtaw is from the Enterprise Masonry Corporation, and James Maravelias is the president of the Delaware Building & Construction Trades Council.